I’m really fortunate that my father decided to document stories about his family. Over a period of about 8 years, he wrote the stories, and I put together the finished product. Joplin Hollow is the result, a collection of family stories, personal memories, and music. We printed about 50 hard copies for family and friends, and the companion website at joplinhollow.com includes additional photos and audio. Enjoy!
Mystery Great-Great-Grandmother
This photo of a young woman standing by a chair is believed to be my great-great-grandmother. The problem is that I don’t know whether it is through the Jameson line, or the Rigg line.
This photo of a young woman standing by a chair is believed to be my great-great-grandmother. The problem is that I don’t know whether it is through the Jameson line, or the Rigg line.
The photo was in the possession of my great-aunt, Ruth Dare Farley (who passed away a few years ago), and said it was her great-grandmother. The photo was badly deteriorated, and she attempted to improve things by painting the background a bit. I welcome input from others on dating the photo and/or identifying the subject.
Alice, or Nannie?
Candidate #1 – Alice Jane Jameson
Alice was born in 1856, married William Hite in 1875, and died in 1941. The first two photos are of Alice with husband William, the second two are with grandchildren in the 1930s.
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Candidate #2 – Nancy “Nannie” Montgomery Rigg
Nannie was born in 1847, married Thomas Willis Farley in 1866, and died in 1923. Here are existing photos of her. The individual portrait is undated. The photo with three daughters is likely in the 1910s . The family reunion photos are about 1920. The Awkward Family photo with 5 generations is about 1910.
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Escape to Her Grandfather’s Ferry
This photo is from “Album of Virginia, Plate 26, Kanawha Fall. Edward Beyer, 1858” – the time period is very close to the time of this story, which refers to a period between 1847 (Nancy Montgomery Rigg’s birth) and 1852 (the death of her grandfather Henry Montgomery).
Frances Folsom Farley (1886-1076), known as “Aunt Aggie” to her family, recounted a story told by her mother, Nancy Montgomery Rigg (1847-1923), who was granddaughter of Henry Montgomery (1765-1852), founder of Montgomery’s Landing and the ferry service. This story was shared in about 1975 on audio tape.
“My mother [Nancy Montgomery Rigg] said that she was always in favor and got what she wanted from him [her grandfather, Henry Montgomery], and he would spoil her. He saw her coming and would say “Run! Run!” and she got down to the river just in time to jump into the boat [at the ferry]. I think her mother [Cynthia Montgomery Rigg] was after her and was going to spank her or something.
Basketball in the Family
Today is my paternal grandmother’s birthday; Audrey Vellence Hale was born on June 6, 1908. In this really fabulous photo, she is posing in her basketball uniform for Winding Gulf High School. Family lore is that she is turned to the side to hide a shiner received in a game a day or two preceding this picture. Continue reading “Basketball in the Family”
Thomas Hardeman
Thomas Hardeman (1750 – 1833) was born in Virginia and served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He moved his family to Tennessee where he served as the first county clerk. Hardeman County is named after him. He later moved to Georgia and other locales, eventually settling in Texas with his family, where he championed the cause of independence for Texas, and served as a judge and as a legislator. He died in 1854 and was buried in Bastrop County, Texas; his remains were moved to the State Cemetery in Austin, Texas in 1937. Hardeman County, Texas is named in honor of Thomas and his brother Bailey Hardeman. He is my husband’s 5th great grandfather.
This photo appears on a couple of websites, but I have not been able to confirm its provenance.
The following is from a book entitled “Recollections and Opinions of an Old Pioneer” and was written by Peter Hardeman Burnett, grandson of Thomas Hardeman and first governor of the state of California, and published in 1880.
My grandfather Thomas Hardeman was born in Virginia, January 8, 1750; and his brother whom I never saw, settled in Georgia. My grandfather Hardeman was among the first settlers of Tennessee, and participated in the Indian wars of that country. He was a stout man, possessed a very fine constitution, a determined will, and a splendid intellect. His education was originally very limited, but by study, he became a man of distinction.
He was the neighbor and warm friend of General Andrew Jackson, and was, with the General, a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Tennessee. He was a farmer and made a fortune, living to the age of seventy-two. He reared eight sons and three daughters: Nicholas Perkins, Nancy, John, Constant, Eleazar, Peter, Dorothy, thomas Jones, Blackstone, Elizabeth, and Baily. All these married, and all reared families, except my aunt Elizabeth. .
My grandfather Hardeman was twice married, his two wives being sisters, but all his children were the issue of his first marriage. He brought up his sons to his own business, except John and Bailey, to whom he gave fine educations. They were intended for the bar, but never practiced. Both were men of fine mental capacity, especially Uncle John, who was one of the most accomplished literary men of the Western States.
My grandfather Hardeman taught certain maxims to his children that have come down to his grandchildren, and have had a great influence over his posterity:
First. Pay your honest debts.
Second. Never disgrace the family.
Third. Help the honest and industrious kin.